Show me the money DANB salary survey - Dental Assisting National Board - Illustration

Dental Assistant, The, May-June, 2003

The findings cited in this report are based on a survey conducted by the Dental Assisting National Board. The survey group represents current DANB Certified Assistants. The survey sample of 5,000 was selected in a systematic fashion from 30,000 current DANB Certified Assistants. Data was collected via mail survey from September 15, 2001 to March 15, 2002. The survey was closed for tabulation with 1,125 responses, which calculates to a 22.5% response rate.

Average Salary Comparison
Among DANB Certified Assistants

Oral Surgery Assisting   $15.87
General Dentistry        $14.98

DANB Certified Assistants in specialty practices earn
more than those in general dental practice, with oral
surgery assistants earning an average $15.87 per hour.

Note: Table made from bar graph.

Employment
Schedule

Part-Time        23%
Temp/Fill-In      3%
Full Time        73%

Most DANB Certified Assistants work full-time.

Note: Table made from pie chart.

Average Salary Per Hour

DANB Certified   $14.98
Non-Certified    $12.73

On average, full-time DANB Certified Assistants earn
$2.25 more an hour than non-certified assistants.

Note: Table made from bar graph.

Salary By Region

West Coast      $16.16
Northeast       $15.82
South Central   $14.58
Southwest       $14.20
North Central   $13.93

Salaries for DANB Certified Assistants vary across the country.

Note: Table made from bar graph.

SALARY BY STATE

Alabama          $12.40
Alaska           $19.00
Arizona          $14.00
Arkansas         $14.10
California       $18.30
Colorado         $15.30
Connecticut      $16.10
Delaware         $15.60
Florida          $14.00
Georgia          $14.70
Hawaii           $13.50
Idaho            $14.10
Illinois         $14.50
Indiana          $14.00
Iowa             $12.90
Kansas           $15.00
Kentucky         $14.50
Louisiana        $13.50
Maine            $15.40
Maryland         $16.00
Massachusetts    $16.30
Michigan         $14.60
Minnesota        $17.00
Mississippi      $14.50
Missouri         $12.50
Montana          $11.60
Nebraska         $13.20
Nevada           $17.00
New Hampshire    $17.30
New Jersey       $16.60
New Mexico       $14.20
New York         $14.10
North Carolina   $15.50
North Dakota     $12.90
Ohio             $17.30
Oklahoma         $14.90
Oregon           $15.20
Pennsylvania     $15.40
Rhode Island     $14.90
South Carolina   $14.20
South Dakota     $11.90
Tennessee        $12.30
Texas            $17.10
Utah             $13.90
Vermont          $15.60
Virginia         $14.90
Washington       $17.30
West Virginia    $13.80
Wisconsin        $16.40
Wyoming          $13.80

What respondents think are reasons for the
shortage of dental assistants:

Low pay                                             81%
Lack of status of the profession                    53%
Not enough graduates from quality
  schools/programs                                  48%
Lack of respect from employer/other dental
  professionals                                     46%
Insufficient number of educational/training
  programs for dental assistants                    34%
Low quality of education/training for
  dental assistants                                 32%
Lack of career path opportunities                   32%
Fast career burn-out                                31%
Short career length                                 28%
Uninteresting work                                   2%

What respondents think are possible solutions
to the shortage of dental assistants:

Provide higher wages to dental assistants          100%
Encourage expanded duties for chairside
  assistants                                        77%
Promote dental assistant careers in high schools    70%
Increase the number of dental assisting
  training programs                                 48%
Promote on-the-job training apprentices             34%
Encourage tuition discounts at dental
  assisting schools                                 28%
Increase size of classes at dental assisting        16%

Salary Based on Size of Practice

SOLO PRACTICE     $14.80
51% of
respondents

GROUP PRACTICE    $14.46
37% of
respondents

12% No response

DANB Certified Assistants employed in
a group practice earn more money.

Note: Table made from pie chart.

Salary By Years In The Profession

 0-5    $12.92
 6-10   $14.06
11-15   $14.96
16-20   $15.96
21-25   $15.71
26-30   $15.72
31-35   $15.81
36-40   $15.33

Salaries top off after 16-20 years in the profession.

Note: Table made from bar graph.

Office/Practice Setting

College/University   5%
Clinic/HMO           3%
Hospital             2%
No response          2%
Military             1%
Prison               1%
State/Municipal
  Health Dept        1%
Vocational School    1%
Other                1%

Private Practice    84%

Most DANB Certified Assistants work in private practice.

Note: Table made from pie chart.

Type of Practice

Orthodontic       10%
Oral Surgery       5%
Pedodontic         3%
Periodontic        3%
Prosthodontic      2%
Endodontic         2%
No response       13%
General Dentistry 62%

Most DANB Certified Assistants work in general dentistry.

Note: Table made from pie chart.